This is why Open Source and homebrew machines will reign supreme in the small business… at least if your goal is to save your company some money.
Sorry, I have to vent.
Our backup server dies. No prob, slap in a new hard drive, reload the software. Netvault requires a machine code, and with a reload the machine code changes. Contact support for the updated keys…. No sir, we can’t help you unless you cough up a few thousand bucks for your expired support contract. Uhm, no. You sent me codes that were “permenant” and “never expire”. Sorry sir, can’t help you. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I just need replacement keys for something I already paid for!! Oh, ok, then just give us $150 and we will resend them to you….
F that… Be calm, onto the next project.
Snap server having some weird problems with memory and swap space, users not able to connect reliably. Alright, there are some fixes in the new OS so let me download it… No sir! That product is out of support! (? its only been in service for a couple months) Damn! Ok I have a brand new one still in the box, same model. Let me register it an it should have the new server support. No sir! That servers complimentary support has already expired! Cough up even more cash and we will allow you to possibly fix our faulty product… WHAT THE!?
F that… Be calm, onto the next project.
Alright, dead hard drive in the Compaq SQL server. No problem, the RAID picked up the hot spare and we are still running. Lets get this drive replaced. You contract is still good sir! WHEW! However, you need to download this software, shut down your server, do some backflips, jump through some hoops, piss off your users, send us a ton of information to verify you aren’t lying to us. Ugh, looks like a Sunday project… hopefully no other drives fail by then.
F that… Be calm, onto the next project.
Good ol’ Quark… lets install the latest version in our LightJet department. No sir! Some problems with your licensing! WHAT?! Ok fine, reinstall the old version FIRST and then install the latest. No sir! Problems with your licensing! WHAT?! The license server is up and running… shows available licenses… ugh. Now that I think about it, I don’t ever remember anything ever working correctly with Quark licensing as far back as version 3. F it, jobs have to go out… use “magic” to make my legitimately purchased and overpriced software install… Quark installed, now lets try to print… no go. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Damnit!
…and its not even 10am yet…
I think I’m going back to building my own hardware and using more Open Source software. The servers we hand built back in ~2001 don’t have these problems. They are old yet still work perfectly (knock on wood). Every issue I’ve ever had with any Open Source software has been quickly resolved with a Google search. Hell even as greedy as Microsoft is, and as crazy as their licensing is, they’ve always been helpful in fixing any issues we’ve had, and without any rediculous support contracts.
Bleh… sorry. Had to get it out.
I need a punching bag in my office………
